The Korean daily media headlines and humor

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Your Excellency:

Here are The Korea Post notices and a roundup of important headlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media of Korea today:

Very Respectfully Yours

/s/

Lee Kyung-sik

Publisher-Chairman

Korea Post Media

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Finally, it’s TOMORROW, the Yecheon World Archery Fest!

Scroll down to the bottom for schedule, reservation, and a coveted trophy

Some 90 noted archers from a total of 37 different countries of the world are competing with one another at the 3rd World Archery Festival in Yecheon on Oct. 13-16, 2017, including China, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Peru, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States (see list at the bottom of this report).
This year, the Festival is attended by many VIP guests from various countries of the world.
At a quick glance, the following noted personalities were noticed from the list of participants. Offhand, there was Chairman Bilal Erdogan of the WESF of Turkey (who is the son of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey. There also Chairman Mehmet Fatih Kalender of the Association of Archers of Turkey.
From Indonesia comes Chairman Utut Adiauto of the National Assembly Culture-Sports Committee and France is represented by Mayor Bruno Fortier of the Crépy-en-Valois City with City Counsel Member Julien Pichelin.

From Bhutan comes Minister Dawa Gyelsthen of Culture and Domestic Affairs with Chairman Lyonpo Kizang Dorji of Archery Association of Bhutan.
From Turksoy comes Vice Chairman Firat Purtas of National Assembly of the country.
At the invitation of Mayor Lee Hyun-jun of the Yecheon County Government, The Korea Post media organizes a tour for the ambassadors and spouses to attend the opening ceremony in Yecheon on Oct. 13, 2017.
Building on its two-year experience, the Yecheon County, one of the principal local autonomous entities in the southeastern province of Gyeongsangbuk-do, hosts the Festival on the theme of ‘Bow of Yecheon, Arrow of Cupid.’

Some of the participants in the Yecheon archery festival from various countries of the world.

The archery festival will feature a variety of exciting programs associated with archery culture, including experience of shooting bows and arrows of many different countries including Korea, bow hunting, bow-based survival game, and recreations. During the Festival, the Yecheon County government will also host the inaugural meeting of the World Traditional Archery Federation set to be held on October 16, 2017.
Programs of the Festival in 2017 will also include an exhibition of world bows, arrows and archery culture, contest of crafting bows and arrows, student contest of shooting Korean traditional bows and arrows, martial art performance and bow-associated performances. Through these programs, visitors can enjoy a variety of experiences, such as experience of shooting Korean traditional bows and other countries, including bamboo bows, wooden bows and cross bows.
As part of its effort to promote the world archery culture, the County will host the inaugural meeting of the World Traditional Archery Federation during the period of the Festival to share unique archery cultures of different countries and establish an international network of archers.

(Scroll down to the bottom for detailed Invitation and Information.)

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What’s ticking in Korea today? Here is a quick roundup of important news stories from the major Korean news media today:

The Korea Post media (www.koreapost.com) in English, (www.koreapost.co.kr) in Korean.

KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)

Assembly Inspections on Gov't Begin Thursday

The first parliamentary inspection of government offices under the Moon Jae-in government is set to begin on Thursday. Rival parties are expected to engage in a fierce political battle over security issues, real estate policies and alleged irregularities of past governments. The inspections will be held for 20 days on 701 government agencies. The ruling Democratic Party plans to highlight irregularities committed under conservative administrations, while the opposition bloc has vowed to focus on the Moon government's incompetency regarding security and economy issues. The largest opposition Liberty Korea Party is determined to dig up dirt on the past governments of Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Dae-jung.

Trump: I Have Tougher Attitude on N. Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump says he has a "stronger and tougher" attitude than other people on North Korea, and he will do what's right for the world. Trump made the remark at the White House on Wednesday at the start of talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trump said that he is taking a different approach on North Korea and ultimately his attitude is the one that matters.

N. Korea: Nukes Will Never be Subject to Negotiation

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho says Pyongyang will never negotiate over its nuclear weapons as long as the U.S. maintains its hostile policies. Ri made the remark on Wednesday to Russia's state-run TASS news agency in Pyongyang when asked about conditions for talks between Washington and Pyongyang. The North Korean diplomat repeated claims that the North's nuclear deterrence is for self-defense to protect itself from U.S. nuclear threats.
Ri then claimed that his country is nearing its goal of achieving a nuclear capability to counter any U.S. threat, calling it a "real balance of power with Washington."

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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

S. Korea, U.S. to draft plan for future alliance command

The South Korean and U.S. militaries will soon formalize a plan to create a new combined command, which will become effective when Seoul regains its wartime operational control (OPCON) of the country's troops, the Ministry of National Defense said Thursday. The allies plan to approve the scheme in their annual Military Committee Meeting (MCM) and Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) later this month, it told lawmakers. The MCM is an annual session ivolving the chairmen of the allies' joint chiefs of staff. This year's meeting will be held in Seoul on Oct. 27, a day before the ministerial SCM. "(The two sides) will authorize the creation of the future command of combined forces during the MCM and the SCM," the ministry said in a report for a regular parliamentary audit of its affairs.

S. Korea's economy unlikely to achieve 3 pct growth this year: foreign Ibs

Foreign investment banks predicted South Korea's economy will not be able to achieve 3 percent growth this year, a report by a financial information provider said Thursday. Nine foreign investment banks, including Goldman Sachs, Nomura and Barclays, said that Asia's fourth-largest economy could grow by 2.8 percent on average, according to the assessment released by the Korea Center for International Finance. The center is designed to closely monitor movements in international financial markets and make policy proposals. The outlook came just days after the International Monetary Fund revised South Korea's growth forecast upward to 3 percent, citing the recovery in global trade and China's import demand.

Agro-fishery products smuggling rises sharply in recent years: KCS

The amount of agricultural and fishery products smuggled into the country has risen sharply in recent years, with nearly half of them coming from China, customs data showed Thursday. The amount rose to 123.9 billion won (US$109.3 million) last year from 40.3 billion won in 2014 and 67.7 billion won in 2015, according to findings released by the Korea Customs Service (KCS). By country, China accounted for 108.5 billion won, or 46.8 percent, of the 231.9 billion won worth of goods smuggled into the country from 2014-2017. Russia came in second at 62.6 billion won, followed by Vietnam at 15.1 billion won. By item, pepper and dried chili pepper topped the list at 29.6 billion won, trailed by pollack at 19 billion won, chili pepper at 14.7 billion won and garlic at 14.5 billion won.

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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)

Trump on NK: My attitude is the one that matters

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that his attitude is "the one that matters" when it comes to resolving the impasse over North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Trump made the remark in response to a question about whether he and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are on the same page on how to deal with the communist regime."I think I have a little bit different attitude on North Korea than other people might have," he told reporters at the start of talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House. "And I listen to everybody, but ultimately my attitude is the one that matters, isn't it? That's the way it works. That's the way the system is."

PyeongChang Olympics ticket sales get icy reception

Less than four months remain until the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, but sluggish ticket sales and lodging reservations could spell trouble for Korea’s first Winter Games. The organizing committee for the Winter Games on Wednesday released preliminary numbers for ticket sales, which showed that 30.3 percent of 1.07 million tickets have been sold so far. About 20.7 percent of 760,000 tickets released to the Korean general public have been sold, while 59.7 percent of 320,000 tickets reserved for foreigners have been sold.

Korea short on precautions for financial crisis

Calls are rising for South Korea to take full precautions against a possible exodus of foreign capital in the course of tensions escalating over North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons programs. Government officials have said the impact of the North Korea risk on the local financial market will be limited. Their measured remarks might be intended to avoid exacerbating volatile market sentiment.

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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)

SNUH accused of exploiting entry-level nurses

Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) has been accused of exploiting newly hired entry-level nurses. It was confirmed that the hospital had paid much lower than the legal minimum wage in the nurses' first month since 2009, a violation of the minimum wage law. The hospital hires nearly 300 entry-level nurses a year, meaning victims could number 2,700. The first-month salary of those hired this year was 360,000 won ($315), nearly a quarter of the legal minimum monthly wage of 1,352,230 won. This year's minimum hourly wage is 6,470 won.

65% of Americans think Trump's hostile rhetoric worsens North Korea crisis

Two-thirds of Americans think U.S. President Donald Trump has made the nuclear standoff with North Korea worse by using combative words, a poll showed Wednesday. According to the survey by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 65 percent of Americans believe the war of words between Trump and the North Korean leadership has made the situation worse. That included 45 percent who said the president has made it much worse. Eight percent said Trump has made the situation better.

Daegu gives more cash for students' English lessons

Daegu will provide extra funds for video English lessons to help teenage students become more confident conversing with English speakers. Since March, the city has been providing money to 3,300 students from elementary and middle schools wishing to take lessons where they can speak English with native speakers from the Philippines. The students enjoyed lessons of 30 minutes three times a week, or 45 minutes twice a week. The city's latest move will start next year and an additional 2,200 students ― grades 3 to 6 in elementary school and grades 1 to 3 in middle school ― will be eligible for the fund. While most of the students will each month get 30,000 won ($26), which is 70 percent of the lesson fees, those in the lowest income groups and from single-parent families will receive the entire fee.

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DongA Ilbo (http://english.donga.com)

KOSPI hits record high amid global market rally

South Korea’s benchmark stock index hit a record high, buoyed by strong global stock market and the return of foreign buyers. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or KOSPI closed at 2,458.16 on Wednesday, up 1 percent from the previous day, reaching a record high in just two months and a half since July 24 when it stood at 2,451.53. The local stock market opened higher, following a strong lead from Wall Street overnight. Both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq rose to record highs on third-quarter earnings expectations on Tuesday (local time).

U.S. flies B-1B bombers over Korea as Trump discusses options

The U.S. Air Force flew two B-1B supersonic strategic bombers over the Korean Peninsula to conduct a drill of striking North Korea late on Tuesday, the founding anniversary of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party. It was unusual for B-1B bombers to fly over the waters off the eastern and western coasts of the peninsula on a day of North Korea’s major anniversary. The drill is seen as ultra-strong warning against Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile provocations, following the U.S. military’s a show of force in late September.

South Korea-China currency swap deal still underway

South Korea and China dragged on their discussion to extend their outgoing currency swap deal worth 56 billion dollars until it expires on Tuesday. The two countries seemed to be positive about the extension of the currency swap but at the same time very cautious stating that they need more time before coming up with a conclusion. "Nothing has been decided," Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol talked about the bilateral currency swap. "It would be best if everything could be settled before the current deal expires but this may not be the case,” Lee added. “We don't need to obsess over the expiration date.”

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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)

U.S. Weapons Mass in S.Korea
U.S. B-1B strategic bombers were sent again to skies over the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday night, practicing launching a precision strike against the North alongside the South Korean Air Force's F-15K fighter jets. Tuesday was the North Korean Workers Party's founding anniversary, when another widely feared missile launch failed to materialize. Earlier U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed by top defense officials on a "range of options" about how to deal with North Korea's nuclear threat, the White House said.

N.Korea's Key 'Rocket Men' Absent from Major Events
Two key officials in charge of North Korea's missile development were absent at recent major events, a mass rally in Pyongyang on Saturday and the Workers Party anniversary on Tuesday. Neither Ri Man-gon, who oversees the party's department in charge of nuclear weapons and missile development, nor Kim Rak-gyom, the head of the Strategic Rocket Forces who is in charge of ballistic missile launches, showed up.

KOSPI Hits Fresh Record
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index crossed 2,450 points on Wednesday, a fresh record despite mounting tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The benchmark index closed at 2,458.16, up 24.35 points or one percent from the previous day. The KOSPI has risen more than 60 points in the two days since the long Chuseok break ended. Its market capitalization exceeded W1,600 trillion for the first time, with high expectations for third-quarter earnings of conglomerates out from Friday (US$1=W1,136).

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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)

Ex-NSC Standing Committee chief Kim Kwan-jin found to have sped up THAAD deployment

The surprise delivery of two THAAD launchers in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on the eve of the presidential election in late April was made at the request of the South Korean government rather than under US pressure, it was recently confirmed.It also emerged that the one orchestrating the effort to set the THAAD deployment in stone after then-President Park Geun-hye was ousted from office was Kim Kwan-jin, then head of the National Security Council Standing Committee and the chief of the Blue House National Security Office. On Oct. 10, Democratic Party lawmaker and National Assembly Defense Committee member Rhee Cheol-hee shared a document with the Hankyoreh titled “Reference Materials in Connection with the US Forces Korea THAAD System Deployment,” which was drafted by the Ministry of National Defense shortly after President Moon Jae-in took office in May.

US Army Chief of Staff warns there are no risk free military options in Korea

"A full-blown war on the Korean Peninsula will be horrific by any stretch of the imagination,” said US Army Chief of Staff Mark Milley in an indirect warning about military action against North Korea on Oct. 9. Milley’s remarks seem out of step with the increasing pressure placed on the North by a series of menacing remarks by US President Donald Trump that hint at military action. "There are no good, easy, you know, risk-free [military] options here

Former US Defense Secretary expresses concern about Trump’s NK tweets

US President Donald Trump’s provocative tweets about North Korea are drawing an outpouring of concern. Robert Gates, who served as Secretary of Defense for nearly five years during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, said on Oct. 9 that “at a number of different points I have to confess in reading the President’s tweets that I wish Twitter had never been invented,” the daily The Australian reported on Oct. 10. The newspaper described Gates as expressing profound concern during a speech relayed live at an International Bar Association conference in Sydney, citing Trump’s tweets about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as becoming excessively inflammatory.

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JoongAng Ilbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)

Trump given ‘range of options’ for North

U.S. President Donald Trump received a briefing on Tuesday from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on military options concerning North Korea’s provocations. “The briefing and discussion focused on a range of options to respond to any form of North Korean aggression,” the White House said through a statement afterward, “or, if necessary, to prevent North Korea from threatening the United States and its allies with nuclear weapons.” This statement implied military options, which could include a preventative war plan or pre-emptive strike.

Husband’s murder sparks pet vs human debate

A national debate over animal rights has been ignited after a woman stabbed her husband to death for yelling at their dog. On Oct. 4, the day of Chuseok, a woman in her 40s stabbed her husband in the neck with a knife in their home in Paju, Gyeonggi, after he swore at their dog for barking, she later told police. The couple’s child, an elementary school student, called the police. The man died in the ambulance and the wife was arrested. “I do not understand her motive,” said a Twitter user on Tuesday. “Her dog must have been more important to her than her husband.”

Gov’t vows to fight U.S. on washer imports

The government vowed Wednesday to work with Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics to combat any safeguard restrictions on their washing machines sold in the United States, with the Trade Ministry saying the potential measures could bring “inevitable” damage to the U.S. market. Kang Sang-chun, deputy trade minister, met with Samsung and LG executives to discuss trade restrictions against the two companies. In a press release after the meeting, the ministry said it would continue demanding that Korean products be excluded from U.S. safeguard restrictions. Safeguards are tariffs and quotas imposed on certain imports to protect domestic players in a market.

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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)

"Secure the North American Washing Machine Market" Samsung & LG Cooperate Against Trade Pressure

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics will work together to guard the North American market, the world's largest market for washing machines. The two companies will work to prevent the Trump administration from issuing a safeguard (emergency import restriction), as the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) judged that South Korean washing machines were causing severe damage to the U.S. industry. Samsung and LG, which have increased their market share in North America with their premium products, are expected to cooperate and develop countermeasures.

Government Tasks Before the US FTA Negotiations
Government Tasks Before the US FTA Negotiations: An Explanation on the Government’s "Self-Justified" Change of View, the Nerves to Abolish the FTA, and Breaking Away from "Behind-the-Scenes" Decision-Making and Large Business-Centered Policies Now that South Korea and the United States have agreed to discuss revisions to the free trade agreement (FTA), the two countries are expected to begin negotiations early next year. Trade experts advise the Moon Jae-in government to resolve four tasks as it enters negotiations.

The FTA and USFK Costs Put the Government's Diplomatic Strategy on the U.S. to the Test

The Moon Jae-in government, which has focused on cooperation with the U.S. in security matters to respond to North Korea's heightened nuclear and missile threats, is now facing a challenge with negotiations on revisions to the South Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA). North Korea's missile launches and nuclear tests have continued since South Korea's new government entered office, and the government has worked closely with the U.S. to respond to such threats. But now all eyes are on whether the government will be able to negotiate with the U.S. on equal ground despite differences on the issue of trade.

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The Korea Economic Daily (http://english.hankyung.com/)

POSCO Completes Steel Wire Service Center in the U.S.

POSCO, Korea's largest steel maker, has completed on September 22 the construction of a steel wire service center in Jeffersonville, Indiana, with an annual capacity of 25,000 tons. The plant will supply steel wire goods to be used for bolts, nuts, and bearings to auto parts companies. Started in April last year, the service center cost the company US$20.9 million to build. The high-quality steel materials produced in the new plant will be supplied to companies like Simplex Korea, Taeyang Metal Industrial, Nissan, and Fontana.

Industry Panics over Prospect of Rising Subcontract Worker Disputes

As the government pronounced illegal on the practice of companies relying on subcontract workers for a long time such as the cases in Paris Baguette and Mando-Hella, the whole industry in shock. This is not just restricted to manufacturers but is spread to services and the food franchise industry as well. The corporate sector expected on September 24 that companies like Tous Les Jours, Samsung Electronics service centers, and LG U+ will likely face the same problem any time soon after the Ministry of Employment and Labor made a decision on dispatch workers. An official with a large corporation said that he is worried that the government may pressure his company to hire all dispatch workers as full-time regular employees.

Oil Refiners See Good Times ahead due to Rising Oil Prices

International oil prices have hit a record high in seven months as they went up over US$50 a barrel. The domestic oil refining sector raised its hopes of improving their profitability in the third quarter after suffering poor results for two consecutive quarters. The spot price for Dubai crude as compiled by the Korea National Oil Corp. was $53.64 a barrel on September 16, up by 7 cents from the previous day. This is the highest level since February this year when the figure was $54.39.

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AJU Business Daily (http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)

GS Inima wins $79 mln order to build desalination plant in Chile

A consortium led by the Spain-based water treatment unit of South Korea's GS Engineering & Construction has secured a contract for a desalination plant worth 78.9 million US dollars in Chile's northern desert area. GS Inima and its Chilean partner, Claro Vicuna Valenzuela (CVV), won the contract from Econssa, a state utility, to build a plant capable of providing fresh water to 70 percent of residents in the Atacama region. The contract calls for the completion of work by 2020. GS Inima owns 65 percent of the consortium with the remainder controlled by CVV. GS Inima would use its seawater reverse osmosis technology for the plant. In 2011, GS Engineering acquired Inima, the unit of Spanish builder Obrascon Huarte Lain.

KT succeeds in testing of 5G video transmission on high-velocity vehicle

KT, South Korea's largest telecom company, has set a new milestone for next-generation communication by transmitting video images to a car running at high speed in the successful expressway field test of its 5G network for the first time in the world. KT said proudly that its 5G technology using "SLT" (SkyLife LTE TV), a hybrid of satellite and LTE wireless communication, would become a solid base in developing and commercializing autonomous and connected vehicles. SLT uses LTE as a backup signal when satellite signal gets weak in harsh weather conditions or when a vehicle moves through a tunnel.

China recommends temporary evacuation of S. Koreans in border areas

China is sending home some ten South Korean residents who are at risk for abduction or other acts of terrorism by North Korean agents, and five have already left, the South's foreign ministry said. The temporary evacuation was recommended by Chinese police who obtained intelligence about North Korea's possible attacks on South Korean residents, the ministry said, citing growing safety concerns in areas bordering North Korea. At the request of Chinese security authorities, five residents have returned home while the other five will follow suit, a ministry official said.

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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)

Samsung Electronics poised to hit record Q3 profit: market consensus

Samsung Electronics Co. is expected to report a record third-quarter profit on Friday thanks to an extended boom in the global memory chip market and brisk sales of its latest smartphone Galaxy Note 8, market analysts said. According to data provider FnGuide on Tuesday, the South Korean tech mogul’s operating profit in the July-September period was estimated at around 14.1 trillion won ($12.4 billion), which would be the company’s highest-ever quarterly operating profit. Some local brokerages, including Eugene Investment & Securities and Kiwoom Securities, have even upped the estimate to 15 trillion won, citing an extended gain in memory prices.

Kia Motors hires ex-PSA lead designer as its China design center head

Kia Motors Corp. has hired Oleg Son, a renowned auto designer and expert in the Chinese market, to lead its Chinese auto design team in hopes the former Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA’s (PSA Group) designer who spearheaded the French auto giant’s Chinese design center can salvage the Korean car maker from sinking in the world’s largest car market.

S. Korea’s 4 major refiners set to report surge in Q3 OP

South Korea’s four major refineries are expected to report a surge in their operating profit in the third quarter thanks to improved refining margins amid a supply shortage after Hurricane Harvey battered Texas where 30 percent of U.S. refining facilities are based. According to multiple sources from the refining and brokerage industries, combined operating income of four major refiners - SK Innovation Co., S-Oil Corp., GS Caltex Corp., and Hyundai Oilbank Co. - is projected to top 2 trillion won ($1.76 billion) in the third quarter after it skid to the 900 billion range in the previous quarter.

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What’s ticking around the world at this second?

See what the world media around the world have to report:

USA Today www.usatoday.com aallman@gannett.com

The New York Times www.nytimes.com inytletters@nytimes.com

Wall Street Journal www.wsj.com support@wsj.com,service@wsj-asia.com

Financial Times www.ft.com ean@ft.com

The Times www.thetimes.co.uk help@timesplus.co.uk

The Sun www.thesun.co.uk talkback@the-sun.co.uk

Chinese People's Daily www.people.com.cnkf@people.cn

China Daily www.chinadaily.com.cn circulation@chinadaily.com.cn

GwangmyeongDaily www.gmw.cn webmaster@gmw.cn

Japan's Yomiuri www.yomiuri.co.jp japannews@yomiuri.com

Asahi www.asahi.com customer-support@asahi.com

Mainichi www.mainichi.jp

Le Monde www.ilemonde.com

Italy LaRepubblica www.quotidiano.repubblica.it vittorio.zucconi@gmail.com

Germany Frankfurter AllgemeineZeitung www.faz.net anzeigen.ausland@faz.de

SüddeutscheZeitung www.sueddeutsche.de forum@sueddeutsche.de

Australia Brisbane Times www.brisbanetimes.com.au syndication@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Sydney Morning Heraldwww.smh.com.au

Colombia Reports http://colombiareports.com

Bogota Free Planet http://bogotafreeplanet.com bfp@bogotafreeplanet.com

El Universal http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english

Andes http://www.andes.info.ec/en

Ecuador Times http://www.ecuadortimes.net

The Jordan Times https://www.jordantimes.com

LSM.lv http://www.lsm.lv/en

The Baltic Times http://www.baltictimes.comlithuania@baltictimes.com, estonia@baltictimes.com, editor@baltictimes.com

El Pais http://elpais.com/elpais/inenglish.html

Philippine Daily Inquirer https://www.inquirer.net

Daily News Hungary http://dailynewshungary.com

Budapest Times http://budapesttimes.hu

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The Korea Post is running video clips from the different embassies.

Azerbaijan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR8CBpcQ4WM

Sri Lanka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByX92Y2aGY&t=22s

Morocco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfFmp2sVvSE

And many other countries.

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Yecheon hosts World Archery Fest with 90 champions from 37 countries

On Oct. 13 on the theme: ‘Bow of Yecheon, Arrow of Cupid’

Mayor Lee Hyun-jun of the Yecheon County, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, welcomes the Korean and international guests attending the 2015 International Archery Festival. This year, archery champions from a total of 40 different countries of the world have applied to participate in the competition and festive events. This year the Festival is slated to begin on Oct. 13, 2017 which is attended by ambassadors and other members of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps.

Some of the participants in the Yecheon archery festival from various countries of the world.

Mayor Lee Hyun-jun of the Yecheon County (9th from left) poses with the champions from different countries of the world and representatives from Korea on the occasion of the 2nd World Archery Festival in Yecheon.

The host also invites associated international organizations to the meeting, including the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center for Asia and the Pacific (ICHCAP), Turksoy and International Organization for Volkskunst (IOV).
Traditionally, Yecheon is famed as a central region of Korean traditional archery since a retired army general in the Joseon Dynasty moved into the County and handed down expertise and culture of archery to young generations about 300 years ago.
Today, around 70% of Korean traditional bows are produced in the County, and it is equipped with rich archery infrastructure including an international-standard archery field. Against the backdrop of this tradition and infrastructure, the County produced more than 100 talented archery players, including a dozen world champions, such as Kim Jin-ho, Kim Su-nyeong, Jang Yong-ho, Yang Seung-hyeon, Kim Seong-nam and Han Hi-jeong. These outstanding archers won championships in international archery games as well as those in Korea.

The Yecheon International Archery Festival is not limited to archery competition but is a festivity for the promotion of friendship and cooperation among the different countries of the world as well as the local features of Yecheon to the outside world. Mayor Lee is determined to use the opportunity to promote friendship between the Korean people and the outside world as well as the participating 40-plus countries of the world.

Moreover, the County successfully hosted the Summer Universiade Daegu 2003 as the venue for archery games in the Universiade, leading it to initiate the World Archery Festival in October 2014. As the Festival was so popular that the first one held in 2014 was taken part by over 150,000 visitors and tourists.
To foster the archery culture, the Gyeongsangbuk-do provincial government plans to build a national archery theme park in the County around the current Jinho International Archery Field in Yecheon. The park will include a museum of archery history, field archery courses, an archery experience hall and an archery education center.
According to Professor Thomas Duvernay of the Lansing Community College in the United States, the best archers in the world are from Korea. In fact, of the top one hundred men archers (Olympic style, 1992), almost thirty were Korean, and of the women the number was almost sixty.

Archery champions from different countries try their marksmanship and skills through actual participation in a contest in Yecheon.

Here are excerpts from his published view on Korean archery:
Why are the Koreans so dominant? I am no expert (I've always been told an 'ex-spurt' is a "drip under pressure"), but I have been involved with Korea and Korean traditional archery long enough to see that archery is part of the very spirit of the country and its people. First, we should look at Korean archery from a historical viewpoint.
Korea has had, without interruption, archery for thousands of years. The bow was primarily a military weapon, used to help unify the peninsula over 1,300 years ago, and later to repel Japanese invaders in the late sixteenth century. Even during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945), archery was a popular athletic event. Today it is enjoyed by thousands of Korean men and women.
Bows: There are two types of bows used in Korean traditional archery. The first type is the modern laminated bow. Draw weights vary, starting at about forty pounds. The bow is about 46-50 inches long. Most have one inner layer of carbon, while others have two for a higher cast. The full-draw length of most bows is more than thirty-one inches, with the anchor point being about even with the shoulder.

The slogan under the archers reads: The Bows of the Yecheon County the Energy of Yecheon.

The second type of bow is the traditional Korean composite horn bow. It is made of several materials. The core is bamboo, which is sinew backed, with oak at the handle. On the belly is waterbuffalo horn. The outer ends of the limbs are made of either mulberry or acacia spliced (v- splice) onto the bamboo. The glue is made from fish air-bladder. Over the sinew backing is a special birch bark that is imported from Northeast China. It is soaked in sea water (I understand for one year). It is applied to the back using diluted rubber cement (using benzene as the solvent).
The draw weights vary, but most are above fifty pounds. The cost for this type of bow is in the US$800 range. For the laminated bow, the cost is US$200-300. For most competitions, either bow may be used (bare bow only), but for national competitions, only the composite bow may be used.
Arrows: As with the bows, there are two types of arrows available. One is a carbon type. It can most often be seen at wet-weather competitions. The other, more common type, is the bamboo arrow. The cost of each arrow is about US$30. The fletcher can make about ten arrows per day.

The Yecheon World Archery Festival is not only a contest but a festival where all the countries of the world participate with in festive mood. Here a number of participants present a traditional folk dance of their country.

Most of the arrow's body is made of bamboo, which the fletcher finds and cuts himself. The point is made of machined brass. The fletching comes from pheasants, and the nock from bush clover. The nock is secured with sinew and both nock and fletching are held on with fish air-bladder glue. In national competitions, only the bamboo arrow may be used. All bamboo arrows are custom- made. There are only ten traditional bowyers and twelve traditional fletchers in Korea (one of each is a friend of mine).
Thumb ring: Koreans use what some people might call the "Mongolian Draw," which uses the thumb and index finger to draw the string. This is different from the more familiar "Mediterranean Draw," which uses the first three fingers. A device (similar in use, but not in appearance, to a finger tab) is used, called a GAHK JEE in Korean, to hold the string. It is a teardrop-shaped thumb ring. It was traditionally made from ox horn, but today they will often be made out of plastic (from pool balls, usually).
Bow cover: A long cloth bag will cover the unstrung bow. This bag serves two purposes: bow cover and sash. When the bow is taken from its cover, the cover is wrapped around the archer's waist and tied. Arrows are twisted in the sash (points in, feathers pointing to the front). Only five arrows at a time are allowed.

Women archers concentrate on their target with male competitors. Archery is also loved by young women in Korea.

Arrow case: Arrows are usually stored in the club house, in a temperature controlled box. However, when transporting arrows from one place to another (such as to and from meets), the Korean equivalent of a quiver is used. It is a tube, usually intricately detailed, made from one of several materials, such as bamboo, wood, or paper. Hand made, finely detailed cases, called JUN TONG in Korean, can cost from $50-500. However, many people will either borrow a case or improvise.
Archery grounds: The central point of the archery grounds is the pavilion hall, called a JUNG in Korean. However, not all jungs will actually have a building; sometimes it may be in name only. Whether or not there is a building, there will always be a sign, written with the Chinese characters JUNG GAHN (literally, 'Righteous Room'). Jung Gahn has various, interpreted meanings, depending on where in Korea you may live. One meaning might be that you will always be upright and righteous inside yourself. Another might mean to always have God within you. In any event, an archer will always give a slight bow to the Jung Gahn when he/she first arrives at the jung.

Archers from various countries are readying to take part in demonstration events.

The shooting line will vary from jung to jung. One jung may have three targets with eight positions for each, while another may have only two targets with five to seven positions for each. Each position will be roughly one square meter (yard).
The targets (made of plywood, covered with hard rubber from an old conveyor belt) are located 145 meters (about 159 yards) away from the shooting line. The target is 2.67 meters high (2.9 yards) and 2 meters wide (2.2 yards). It is tilted 15 degrees back.
Etiquette: As I stated earlier, an archer will bow to the Jung Gahn when first arriving at the jung. Also, just before an archer makes a first shot, he/she will give a slight bow to the target saying "Hwal bae oom ni da," which means, "I am learning the bow." If other members are present, they would reply, "Ma ni ma chu sayo", which means, "Have many hits." A novice archer would also bow to the target after the first hit of the day, while advanced archers would not.
During the first end of shooting, the order would go from left to right, and alternate at the next end. An end is when the first archer shoots one arrow, then the second archer shoots one arrow, etc., until each archer has shot five arrows.

Archers are demonstrating their skills with their bows.

In Korean archery, formality is everything. An archer will not go to practice in old, dirty clothing, but will wear clean, nice clothes. The reason being, if you look unclean, your mind will be unclean, but if you look organized, that is how your mind will be. As in all types of archery, mental attitude is very important. One very important precept in Korean archery is JUNG SHIM JUNG GI. It means "Straight Mind Straight Body." If you don't have this, your shooting will probably be off.
For competitions, archers will wear white shirts, white pants and white athletic shoes. The shirt is usually of the polo style. The pants will usually be a comfortable cotton or blend.
One thing many foreigners have noticed is the absence of bow hunting in Korea. I wondered about that too, at first. While the Koreans very effectively used their bows in war in the past, their traditional teachings (primarily from Buddhism) discourage the use of the bow for killing. It is interesting to note, however, some of these same people will very happily take up a gun during hunting season (it should also be noted that Korea has strict gun control laws). With the bow, however, they feel there would be a "loss of balance" if they were to use it for hunting. But they are still very interested in American traditional archery, especially regarding hunting and Native American style (as they consider themselves kin to the first inhabitants of America).

An archery champion from a Central Asian country is demonstrating his skills with the bow.

Procedure: Handling the Korean bow is almost the same as any other with the exceptions of the way of holding the string, and the side of the bow where the arrow is. As mentioned earlier, the string is held withthe thumb and index finger (in a position like you were going to flip a coin); the arrow rests just above the thumb. If you are right-handed, the arrow is on the right side of the bow, and if left- handed, on the left side. The bow is generally slightly canted to the arrow side.
The stance is roughly at the two o'clock (ten o'clock for lefties) position, with legs shoulder-width apart. The draw is past the standard anchor point, all the way even with your thumb ring-hand shoulder. Shooting angle will depend a lot on the cast of your bow. Some archers may shoot at a 45-degree angle above horizontal, while others may have a more flat trajectory.
Scoring is simple. If you hit the target and your arrow did not break the plane of (go past) the target, it's a hit. At competitions, there will be a target judge with a flag to show what the arrow did. A circular motion shows a hit, straight up means the arrow went long, straight down means it went short, etc. There are both individual and team events at competitions. A round will be made up of three ends of five arrows for the individual event. The team event is decided by elimination (quarter-finals, semifinals, finals), with one end of five arrows for each team member in each event.

Ranking: When a novice archer makes his/her first hit ever, he/she will usually buy all the other members some refreshments. For the next three levels (two, three, four hits out of five), members would congratulate the archer. However, when an archer has a perfect end of five out of five, a semi- official honor is bestowed upon him/her.
Mohlgi: A perfect end of five out of five is called a MOHLGI in Korean. When you reach this level (make sure you have witnesses!) you are called a JUB JAHNG, which roughly means "ace." The time and date of this event should be noted (coincidentally, I achieved this level on one of the anniversaries of Ishi's* death--March 25).
The other members will give an elaborate, but short, ceremony, usually during the following monthly meeting. You will receive your MUHO, or your "MARTIAL PEN NAME." Usually it is picked by the director of your jung, and it should describe something about you or your background. For instance, my muho is CHUNG HO. Chung means 'blue' and Ho means 'lake'. As my home state is Michigan, the director of my jung found this to be a suitable name.

Official ranking: Several times each year, special competitions are held to decide members' official rankings. The ranking system is similar to that in taekwondo, as DON levels are used. Each member will have a total of 45 arrows to shoot (nine ends of five arrows). The first don will start at 25 hits, the next will is 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 37, and the top, ninth don, is 39 arrows (a separate competition is held for each level, and only two levels may be reached per year). There are only two people in the world who are at the top level (one lives in the USA). A close friend of mine (and my mentor) from my jung, Mr. Bak Dong Sub, is the top shooter from my jung; his ranking is fifth don, a special level called Myeonggung, roughly translated as "famous name archer." Each don is represented by the Mugunghwa flower, known in English as the Rose of Sharon. Whenever a member reaches a don level, he/she will be presented with a bow cover, with the flowers embroidered on.
The author, Professor Tom Duvernay, can be contacted at: chungho@soback.kornet.nm.kr or tduve@sunny.ncmc.cc.mi.us

VIP particiapnts from around the world:

Turkey: Chairman Mehmet Fatih Kalender of the Association of Archers of Turkey and Mr. Bilal Erdogan (chairman of WESF and son of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey).
Indonesia: Chairman Utut Adiauto of the National Assembly Culture-Sports Committee.
France: Mayor Bruno Fortier of the Le Pibalua City, City Counsel Member Julien Pichelin.
Bhutan: Minister Dawa Gyelsthen of Culture and Domestic Affairs of Bhutan, Chairman Lyonpo Kizang Dorji of Archery Association of
Bhutan.
Turksoy: Vice Chairman Firat Purtas of National Assembly.

Other participants:
Austria: Peter O. Stecher, Michaela Wolf
Bhutan: Thinley Gyamtsho, Mr. Dorji Wangchuk, Mr. Sithar Tshering
Bolivia: Jorge Perales
Bahrain: Dr.Mohamed Nouiri
China: Jake Guo, Cai Zhi Zhong, Wang Zhi Guang, Feng Jin Yong, Fang Hui Qing, Piao Cheng Xu, Zhang Dong Hua
France: Raphael Rambur, Lafaurie Cecile, Bruno Badia-Canes
Germany: Jurgen Junkmanns, Petersen Maren　
Greece: Taxiarchis Chassalevris, Smyroglou Erasmia
Hungary: Dr. Gabor Szöllösy
Indonesia: Irvan Setiawan, Adhi Ariebowo Maskirno, Sunaryo Adhiatmoko, Ernita Susanti, Dhanisa Restya Agung, Arsa Wening Arrosyad
Iran: Mehdi Khatibi, Ahmad Kazemi
Japan: Jiro Watanabe, Makino Yota, Masuda Munehiro, Tamada Morihisa, Norikazu Ito
Kyrgyzstan: Almazbek Akunov, Azamat Oruzbaev, Aida Akmatova, Samat Suerkulov
Malaysia: Almazbek Akunov, Azamat Oruzbaev, Aida Akmatova, Samat Suerkulov
Mongol: Munkhnasan Dunguu, Boldbaatar Sukhbaatar, Zorigt Mashbat,,, Davaajargal Khishigt, Sukhbaatar Jambaa, Lkhagvasuren Tsengel, Byambanaidan Nyam-Ochir
Peru: Patricia Olivos, Keyra Perales Olivos
Poland: Karol PISARKIEWICZ
Spain: Tawfiq Ibrahim Bottos, Omar Ibrahim Bottos
Taiwan: Jet Wu, Lee Han Cing, Chiu Hung Kai, Odin Yu Te Lin, Tung Kuei Hua, Chu Li Chien, Chen Chin Wen, Lu Wen Hua, Wu Wen Han, Tseng Ming Che, Shih Chi Li, Wen Shu Huan, Yang Jing Dian, Cheng Po Chun,Yang Bi Hua
Thailand: Thanat Moonjaroenporn, Master Kittituch Nakaew
Turkey: Murat Özveri, Harun Deniz
UK: Hilary Greenland, Richard Hornsby
USA: Candy Sall (Museum), Jacob Koppedrayer, Kathleen Iva Koppedrayer

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Dear Ambassador, Defense Attache and Madam:

Show your skill or interest in Korean archery, and win a coveted prize!

0830 hours, Friday 13 October 2017: Meet at Grand Hyatt Seoul, depart for Yecheon by Limousine buses.

1200 hours the same day: Arrive at the luncheon venue, the Yecheon Wedding Hall Restaurant

1200-1350 hours: Attend official luncheon hosted by Mayor Lee at the above Restaurant, where welcome ceremony for the visiting ambassadors, other senior diplomats and spouses will be hosted by Mayor Lee.

1350-1400 hours: Move to the Festival venue.

1400-1700 hours: Tour the Festival site, have hands-on experience in traditional Korean archery and also Western archery. Meet with the World Archery Troupe.

1700-1740 hours: Join the parade of the City officials and dignitaries of the City.

1800-1900 hours: Attend the opening ceremony.

1900-2130 hours: Move back to Grand Hyatt Seoul from Yecheon.

For additional details and inquiries, please contact Ms. Kim Sua at 010-758473 or Mr. John Kim at 010-9205-0200 (English), Ms. Sua Kim at 010-7584-5873, Kim Jong-mi at 010-3388-1682 (Korean), or Chairman Lee Kyung-sik at 010-5201-1740.

The Festival is participated in by many Government Leaders and other VIP guests from around the world,

At a quick glance, the following noted personalities participate:

Chairman Bilal Erdogan of the WESF of Turkey (son of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey) with Chairman Mehmet Fatih Kalender of the Association of Archers of Turkey.

From Indonesia comes Chairman Utut Adiauto of the National Assembly Culture-Sports Committee and France is represented by Mayor Bruno Fortier of the Le Pibalua City with City Council Member Julien Pichelin.

Very Respectfull6 Yours

/s/

Lee Kyung-sik

Publisher-Chairman

The Korea Post media

(010-5201-1740)

Lee Kyung-sik edt@koreapost.com